CEDARVILLE, Ohio - On Thursday evening the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship semifinals kicked off in cold, rainy, and windy conditions. In the first semifinal contest, top overall seed Cedarville welcomed Alderson Broaddus
CEDARVILLE 5, ALDERSON BROADDUS 1
[Box Score]
In the first half, both teams battled the weather and each other with the weather seemingly winning. The two teams combined for just six total shots, with only one or two real scoring chances. The teams went into half scoreless and looking as if the first goal would prove to be the game-winner.
However, the second half told a different story. Just about five minutes into the second half, Connor Scott and Christian Alexander went on the attack. After a few shots and a tremendous pass by Alexander across the box, Scott drove it home giving the Yellow Jackets the 1-0 lead.
With a lack of scoring opportunities in the first half, one would have thought that was all Cedarville needed. However a flurry of goals came, starting in the 62nd minute when Scott scored his second goal of the game on a pass from Jared Newman.
The Battlers were not going away, scoring less than a minute later on a direct kick following a foul on Cedarville. Alec Andall drove the ball to the far post from about 40 yards out with the wind at his back.
With a 2-1 lead, Cedarville scored four minutes later to cap the onslaught of goals midway through the second. This time Ethan Shula received a pass from Chris Anderson and slide the ball past a charging keeper for the insurance goal.
At this point, the Yellow Jackets took full control of the contest, adding two more late goals to finish off the Battlers, 5-1. In the 86th minute, Justin Santoro scored his first of the season, once again coming on a pass from Chris Anderson. Jared Newman added his second assist on the final goal of the game, coming with only 1:19 on the clock from Joel Twinem.
DAVIS & ELKINS 3, SALEM INTERNATIONAL 0
[Box Score]
In the second semifinal, the cold, wind, and rain worsened as Davis & Elkins controlled its semifinal match-up with Salem International. The Senators offensive attack was carried by the efforts of its top player, the 2013 Men’s Soccer and G-MAC Athlete of the Year, James Pucci.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes, Pucci took a long pass over the top from Declan McGill and scored from about 15 yards out to give the team an early 1-0 lead. Then about seven minutes before half, Pucci scored again, this time on a cross into the box and Pucci drove it into the corner to give the Seantors a 2-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, it was more of the same for Davis & Elkins, who controlled a majority of the possessions in the contest, especially as the rain picked up in the second half and they had the wind at their back.
Pucci completed the trifecta with his third goal coming in the 72nd minute on a penalty kick after his teammate was tackled in the box on a late slide tackle attempt.
With the 3-0 lead and difficult conditions, the Senators defense locked down and ran out the clock to advance to the G-MAC finals for the second straight season.
G-MAC FINALS
The Yellow Jackets and Senators will meet in the finals for the second-straight season. However, this time Cedarville will have the home field advantage. The championship game will take place on Saturday, November 8 at Noon (eastern). During the regular-season, Cedarville traveled to Elkins and shutout D&E, 2-0.